| Title: |
Effects of psilocybin on personality, psychiatric symptoms, and values:Exploring mediating effects of the acute psychedelic experience |
| Authors: |
Kerr-Gaffney, Jess; Myrtle, Samuel; Askari, Famia; Bird, Catherine; Modlin, Nadav Liam; Young, Allan H; Rucker, James |
| Source: |
Kerr-Gaffney, J, Myrtle, S, Askari, F, Bird, C, Modlin, N L, Young, A H & Rucker, J 2026, 'Effects of psilocybin on personality, psychiatric symptoms, and values : Exploring mediating effects of the acute psychedelic experience', Journal of Psychopharmacology, vol. 40, no. 5, pp. 806-817. https://doi.org/10.1177/02698811251408769 |
| Publication Year: |
2026 |
| Collection: |
King's College, London: Research Portal |
| Description: |
BACKGROUND: Changes in well-being, personality, and personal values have been documented post-psilocybin; however, evidence from placebo-controlled trials is limited. AIMS: To examine the effects of psilocybin versus placebo on psychiatric symptoms, personality, and personal values in healthy participants. Potential mediators were also explored. METHODS: This secondary analysis used data from a phase I, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial testing a single dose of 10 mg ( n = 30) or 25 mg psilocybin ( n = 30) versus an inert placebo ( n = 29) in 89 healthy participants. Effects of psilocybin on personality (Neo Five-Factor Inventory; NEO-FFI), psychiatric symptoms (Symptom Checklist-90; SCL-90), and values (Life Changes Inventory; LCI) at short- (day 8) and long-term follow-up (day 85) were analysed using mixed-effects models. Group differences in cognitive flexibility (Intra-Extra Dimensional Set Shift task; IED) at day 8 were analysed using a Kruskal-Wallis test. Potential mediating effects of the acute psychedelic experience (Five-Dimensional Altered States of Consciousness Questionnaire; 5D-ASC) were explored. RESULTS: No between-group differences were found on the NEO-FFI, SCL-90, or IED. Both psilocybin groups showed greater LCI absolute change scores at both follow-up points compared to placebo. The 5D-ASC oceanic boundlessness subscale partially mediated these changes. Oceanic boundlessness also fully or partially mediated differences across several LCI subscales, and auditory alterations mediated differences on one subscale. CONCLUSIONS: The acute psychedelic experience, namely oceanic boundlessness and, to a lesser extent, auditory alterations, mediates self-reported changes in values in healthy volunteers. Findings from this exploratory study are tentative and should be replicated in larger samples. |
| Document Type: |
article in journal/newspaper |
| File Description: |
application/pdf |
| Language: |
English |
| ISSN: |
0269-8811; 1461-7285 |
| Relation: |
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pmid/41588876; info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/0269-8811; info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1461-7285 |
| DOI: |
10.1177/02698811251408769 |
| Availability: |
https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/publications/4130ebd7-32e0-4d3e-9d59-ebfbee7010d2; https://doi.org/10.1177/02698811251408769; https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/ws/files/374826325/kerr-gaffney-et-al-2026-effects-of-psilocybin-on-personality-psychiatric-symptoms-and-values-exploring-mediating.pdf; https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105029505286 |
| Rights: |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess ; http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.B03CF1B5 |
| Database: |
BASE |